'Supernatural' 8x15 Recap: Unbreakable Bond

It’s not remotely difficult to find the culprit, because when it’s not the devoted friend, it’s always the dude with chiseled features and a steely gaze. In this case, they are one and the same: James’ dear friend Spencer, who was jealous that Portia became James’ familiar and he was stuck with the spineless LeChat. The resulting showdown is a particularly nasty one. Spencer is fiendishly talented, and uses Sam and Dean’s worst memories— their mother’s death, hell, losing each other—against them. When Spencer battles James, it feels like a low-rent rehash of Voldermort v. Dumbledore in “Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix,” and I love it. When things look exceedingly dire for the Winchesters, and a cursed James, Portia gallops into frame like an badass “Lassie” and takes a few chunks out of Spencer, breaking the spells, and giving Sam and Dean enough time to molatov him with Bobby’s patented witch-killing brew.

James and Portia, who decide to flee St. Louis before the police, who still have very real evidence against James, can arrest him. The Wiccan community has unfortunately abandoned them as well, but after meeting LeChat and Spencer, I consider it a blessing. It was refreshing that the case closed with the paranormal lovers intact and without Dean’s head exploding from trying to figure out who came first “the dog or the girl?” It's perversely funny to watch him try, though.

The State of the Brotherhood

The state of the brotherhood is still strong, albeit understandably tense. Dean, ever the big brother, is nervous that Sam isn’t “ready” for the literal and dangerous trials that lie ahead and he's probably terrified of losing his brother again. Sam, ever the little brother, is annoyed and hurt by Dean’s overbearing concern. “We get too far down the road with this and we can’t go back. It’ll be too late for me to jump in,” Dean warns.

“I’ve been going over this and over this, asking myself ‘why doesn’t he trust me?’ And it occurred to me finally it’s not that he doesn’t trust me, it’s that you can only trust you,” Sam fires back.

Sam has done nothing but doggedly fight for the greater good, minus that whole releasing-the-devil thing a few years ago, and I wholeheartedly believe in his skills as a hunter, a Man of Letters, and a selfless human being. But I agree with Dean. It doesn’t make sense to put all of this on one person’s shoulders, especially when the lore never mentioned that there couldn’t be multiple conquerors of the trials. As dangerous as this mission will be, it’s only good business to double their odds and have Dean participate too, right?

Maybe not.

If it’s Wednesday, “Supernatural’s” finding new and sinister ways to shatter our hearts. Dean understood something after they fight with Spencer, and shares it in the security of the dark Impala. “You know when I look back at what our family’s been through, seeing all that pain, I realize that the only way we made it through it all was by hangin’ together. I trust you, Sammy…it’s too important not to. If you say you’re good, I’m with you 100 percent.”

Sam can barely grit out his assurances before he discreetly hacks up blood. If reading the tablet nearly felled Kevin, what exactly will completing its inscribed tasks do to Sam? I’m not sure I even want to know.

From A to F, “Metamorphosis” to “Criss Angel Is A Douchebag,” this episode was a bewitching B. It lacked compelling action on the front end, but managed to pack in some drama and a great special effects in the end.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? Did you laugh when Sam’s knee got stuck in the laundry hamper when James tossed him? Do you think evil Spencer looked a bit like Michael Fassbender? Do you hope to see Portia again? Hit up the comments section below!

Next week, brush up on your mythology, because Zeus & Co. are visiting from Mt. Olympus!